Your life expectancy is..

.. 85.4 years!

To calculate your own life expectancy you need to calculate your BMI first.
BMI [in metric]: weight in kg / (height in meter)²
Then click on the link above.


Your height and weight
Obesity is associated with inefficient energy production and an increased production of oxygen radicals within cells, therefore leading to increased risk of various cancers, heart disease and accelerated ageing. It may also lead to diabetes.

Q1: Do you smoke, chew tobacco, inhale snuff, or are you often around second-hand smoke (in pubs or at work)?
Cigarette smoke contains toxins which directly damage DNA and subsequently cause cancer. Cigarettes are the biggest direct source of nitrosamines (a carcinogen) humans are exposed to. These substances, along with other constituents of cigarette smoke, are potent oxidants and carcinogens that lead to accelerated ageing, lung disease, and diseases associated with ageing. Stopping smoking decreases your risk.

Q2: Do you eat more than a couple of hot dogs, sausages, or slices of bacon a week?
Some studies suggest that 90% of all human cancers are environmentally induced, 30-40% of these by diet. Preserved and cured meats (bacon, sausage, salami, etc.) are an important source of nitrites in our diet. Nitrites lead to the formation in our bodies of nitrosoamines, which are important environmental oxidants and carcinogens. For instance, there is a significant association between nitrosamines and stomach cancer.

Q3: Do you cook your fish, poultry, or meat until it's charred, either by grilling or on the barbecue?
Grilling can change proteins and amino acids into substances called heterocyclic amines (which are potent mutagens), or substances which can alter your DNA. This is turn can increase cancer risk.

Q4 & 5: Do you avoid butter, cream, lard, sweets and other saturated fats as well as fried food (e.g., chips)?
And do you minimise meat in your diet, preferably making a point to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and bran instead?
High protein diets, and the combination of a high fat and protein diet, have been associated with increased risk of cancer of the breast, uterus, prostate, colon, pancreas and kidney. An important mechanism is that these foods can be inefficient sources of energy and cause excess oxygen radical formation. Of course, saturated fats also lead to obesity and its risks. On the other hand, diets which emphasise fruits and vegetables have been associated with significantly lower heart disease risk and better quality of life.


Q6: Do you drink more than a pint of beer, or 2 glasses of wine/mixed drinks, a day?
Excessive alcohol is a toxin which damages the liver, nerve cells, and the mitochondria (individual cells' power producers) within most cells of the body. This leads to acceleration of ageing and increased susceptibility to many diseases associated with ageing.
For more information:
Alcoholics-anonymous

Q6: cont'd) Do you drink a moderate amount of alcohol - less than a pint of beer or less than 2 glasses of wine - a day?
Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with decreased heart disease risk. This may be one explanation for the 'French paradox,' in which the French are known for their love of high saturated fat foods, and yet their heart disease risks may be lower (except in the case of those who smoke cigarettes), perhaps because of the higher consumption of wine in that country.

Q7: Do you live in an urban area with poor air quality and lots of pollution? Numerous air pollutants are potent causes of cancer and contain oxidants which accelerate ageing.

Q8: Do you drink more than 3 cups of coffee a day?
Excessive coffee can be a sign of increased stress. Stress can lead to a hormonal imbalance which can physically stress and age numerous organs. In addition, coffee predisposes the stomach to chronic inflammation of the stomach and ulcers. Such chronic inflammation leads to release of substances that raise the risk of heart disease.

Q8: cont'd) Do you drink tea instead of coffee?
Tea drinkers in general appear to be healthier, and green tea especially has been noted for its significant anti-oxidant content.

Q9: Do you take an aspirin a day?
81 mg of Aspirin per day has been noted to significantly decrease heart disease risk. This benefit may be due to the anti-blood clotting effects of aspirin. Chronic inflammation may also play a role in heart disease and therefore, aspirin's effect on inflammation may also be helpful.

Q10: Do you floss your teeth every day?
Recent scientific evidence reveals that chronic gum disease leads to the release of certain bacteria and inflammatory, toxic substances into the blood stream which potentiate plaque formation in arteries and ultimately lead to heart disease. This process probably also increases the risk of stroke and accelerated ageing.

Q11: Do you have a bowel movement at least once every 2 days?
Keeping gut transit time under 20 hours seems to decrease the incidence of colon cancer, probably by decreasing the contact time between the gut lining and cancer-potentiating substances in the diet. These substances influence DNA damage and repair and therefore probably also influence the rate of ageing as well. Epidemiological studies in humans and animal studies suggest that increasing dietary fibre will reduce the risk of certain cancers - perhaps by increasing the frequency of bowel movements.

Q12: Do you engage in risky sexual (unprotected or
promiscuous) or drug-related behaviour that increase your risk of contracting HIV or viruses that can cause cancer?
Viruses such as HIV and others which are transmitted by risky behaviour not only cause AIDS, but also various cancers including lymphoma. These viruses change DNA and probably also, as a result, influence ageing as well.

Q13: Do you ever try to get a suntan - or ever expose yourself to the sun without wearing SPF 30 (or higher) sunblock and protective clothing?The association between sun exposure and accelerated skin ageing are clear. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight directly damages DNA. More sun means more wrinkles sooner. It also means a higher risk Of deadly skin cancer. Excessive sun exposure may also have more toxic consequences for the body in general.

Q14: Do you live near enough to other family members (other than your spouse and dependent children)
that you can pop by to see them spontaneously - or vice versa?
Extended family cohesiveness and frequent contact is a notable feature of centenarian families. Researchers have noted that people who do not belong to cohesive families have fewer coping resources and increased levels of social and psychological stress. Psychological stress is associated with heart disease, various cancers and increased mortality risk.

Q15: Can you shed stress?
Centenarians shed emotional stress exceptionally well. Their stress-shedding personalities and the familial support which they receive and contribute to are important stress-reducing mechanisms.

Q16: Does more than one member of your immediate family (parents and siblings) have diabetes?
Diabetes causes excessive exposure to glucose and therefore debilitating cross-linking of proteins. This results in age-related problems such as cataracts, impaired nerve function, eye disease, heart disease and other vascular problems.

Q17 & 18: Your immediate family history
Genetics plays a significant role in the ability to achieve extreme old age in good health. If both sides of your family contract diseases associated with ageing, significantly before average life expectancy, then it behoves you to do all you can to maximise your health status. Be sure to enter into a diligent programme of screening and prevention with your physician. If you have significant extreme longevity in your family, this will help significantly in your own ability to achieve old age in good health.
For more information:
50 plus

Q19: Do you exercise 30 minutes, 3 days a week, or more?Exercise leads to more efficient mitochondrial energy production (within individual cells) and less oxygen radical formation. Muscle building exercise becomes even more important than aerobic exercise as you get older.

Q20: Do you take both vitamin E (400-800 international units) and selenium (100-200 microgrammes) everyday?
Vitamin E is thus far the best scientifically proven antioxidant available either in the diet or as a dietary supplement. It has been shown in epidemiological studies to delay or retard the progression of Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and stroke. It also boosts the immune system. Selenium appears to have dramatic effects in preventing cancer.